Adcetris is a specific medication used alone or in combination with other medications to treat adults with certain types of cutaneous or systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, or mycosis fungoides. Adcetris injection is also used in the treatment of certain other kinds of cancer. Adcetris contains a monoclonal antibody that binds to a CD30 protein, which is found on certain lymphoma cells. This drug helps in destroying cancer cells. Adcetris is a kind of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). Adcetris contains the drug Brentuximab Vedotin and SGN-35.
The following table provides a brief yet important deets about Adcetris, so take note of the same:
Manufacturer- Seattle Genetics
Composition - Brentuximab Vedotin: 50 Mg/Vial
Innovator Brand - Brentuximab Vedotin, Adcetris
Type of Drug - Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC)
How it works- Works by reducing the number of cancerous cells in the body
Packaging Type- Bottled
- Treatment of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL):
- It treats newly diagnosed Stage 3 or 4 classical Hodgkin lymphoma in combination with chemotherapy medicines (Adriamycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine).
- It treats classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) at high risk of coming back or becoming worse after a stem cell transplant.
- It treats classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) after a stem cell transplant fails or after at least 2 combination chemotherapy treatments fail and stem cell transplant is not an option.
- It treats newly diagnosed systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma or other CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas, including angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphomas not otherwise specified, in combination with chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone).
- It treats systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) after at least one course of combination chemotherapy treatment fails.
- It treats primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma or CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides who have received prior systemic therapy (treatment that reaches and affects the entire body).
- Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy): Let your health specialist know in case you have any numbness or tingling in your feets or hands or any muscle weakness.
- Allergic and infusion reactions: Let your health specialist know in case you experience symptoms of rash, fever, chills, or breathing problems within 24 hours of infusion. In case you have a reaction, you may be given drugs before treatment with Adcetris.
- Blood complications: Severe cases, including death, of fever with a reduced number of WBCs have occurred with treatment. Severe cases of a reduced number of WBCs, a reduced number of platelets, or a reduced number of RBCs can occur.
- A health specialist will perform blood tests to check the level of blood cells during Adcetris therapy. You may be given a medicine known as G-CSF. Let your doctor know in case you have a fever of 100.5°F or higher, chills, cough, or pain when you urinate.
- Infections caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses have occurred.
- Tumor lysis syndrome: TLS is caused by the quick breakdown of cancerous cells. A health specialist will monitor patients for signs/symptoms.
- Patients with severe kidney or moderate/severe liver disease may experience more adverse reactions and deaths than those without kidney or liver complications/problems.
- Liver complications. Severe liver complications, including death, can occur. Let your doctor know in case you feel tired, feel a full stomach, have upper stomach pain, dark urine, or yellow skin and eyes (jaundice).
- Lung complications: Severe lung complications, including death, can occur. Let your doctor know in case you have a new cough, a cough that gets worse, or shortness of breath.
- Skin complications called Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis may appear. Let your doctor know in case you have hives, rash, sores in your mouth, or blistering or peeling skin.